Extending Player Pool, Youth Soccer Clubs Announce New Girls Development Player League (DPL)

SAN DIEGO, April 7, 2017, — Working together to benefit player development in the Southwest — a known hot bed of youth soccer talent — ten highly successful youth soccer clubs in the Girls U. S. Soccer Development Academy have announced today the launch of Development Player League (DPL).

Albion SC, LA Galaxy, Legends SC, LA Galaxy SD, Eagles SC, LA Premier FC, SC Del Sol, Beach FC, Real So Cal and Pateadores have joined forces to help provide more player development opportunities for girls and have formed a new youth soccer league designed to fit into their respective clubs directly under U.S. Soccer’s Girls Development Academy.

The Development Player League (DPL) will be the platform for the extended player pool of their elite Development Academy teams.

The new league will focus on creating a pathway for players to progress, develop and be identified creating a seamless bridge between the DA and the DPL.

“Through conversations with our membership we quickly realized that there was a gap in our system with the implementation of the new U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy and after sharing those concerns with other DOC’s it became apparent that if we collaborate the gap can be closed,” said Barry Ritson, Executive Director of LAPFC.

“The Development Player League is a fantastic compliment to the United States Soccer Development Academy,” said Steve Sampson, former USA National Team Coach and Technical Director.

"This is an opportunity for our second teams to have their own familiar pathway to reaching their club soccer goals," says Mauricio Ingrassia, Technical Director of Beach Futbol Club. "Having ten DA clubs working together in the number one hotbed for youth soccer in the country is inspiring.”

The DPL will include the 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000/1999 age groups.

Selected youth players will be designated as Development Players for their club’s DA teams.

“Instead of carrying heavy rosters, where players aren’t getting proper playing time to develop, they can now be placed in the DPL program in an environment that will allow this growth,” said Courtney Drummond, Assistant Academy Director of LA Galaxy SD.

Although mirroring the USSF DA in many ways, players in the DPL will be able to play High School soccer. Teams will also be able to compete in US Youth Soccer’s National Championships on a local, regional and national level. In addition, the DPL teams will participate in 2 major showcases for college exposure. The teams will participate in the November Silverlakes Showcase and March Las Vegas Showcase.

“This is a natural next step in our commitment to further enhance our player programming,” says Matt Tutton, LA Galaxy Technical Consultant. “We always want to be on the forefront of development for our player pool.”

“I am really excited for the upcoming league,” said Michael Duggan, Academy Director of LA Galaxy SD. “It’s a great player pathway for the girls who have aspirations of playing in the development academy.

“At Legends FC, we have been very attentive to our academy program as a whole,” said Kevin Boyd, Academy Director at Legends FC. “It is a tribute to all 10 directors that we were able to work together and create a league that fits all the different needs.”

"This is a great opportunity for all of our clubs. We are thankful to the federation for supporting us in this venture,” says Jon Szczuka, Club Director of Pateadores.

“Players participating in this league will be able to compete against some of the best competition while choosing to mirror the development philosophy of U.S. Soccer,” said Noah Gins, CEO/Executive DirectorAlbion SC. “The clubs participating in this league are committed to excellence, proper development and high level competition and I am very proud to be involved in its inception.”